Common Dreads
Enter Shikari · 2009
50 min · 15 tracks · post-hardcore
A frenetic blend of electronic beats and post-hardcore energy, merging political themes with a danceable edge.
Top tracks — play these first
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Common Dreads Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Juggernauts — This track showcases a dynamic interplay of heavy guitar riffs and electronic elements, encapsulating the album's energetic spirit while tackling themes of societal struggle.
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Solidarity — With its anthemic chorus and driving rhythms, this song serves as a rallying cry for unity against social injustices, embodying the album's core message.
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No Sleep Tonight — The blend of urgent vocals and pulsating beats captures the feeling of unrest and urgency present throughout the album, making it a standout track.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's energetic blend of genres and political themes creates a distinctive sound that stands out in its genre.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that sets a high-energy tone, immediately blending electronic elements with aggressive guitar riffs.
- Several songs feature spoken word segments interspersed with sung verses, emphasizing the political themes present in the lyrics.
- The final track incorporates orchestral elements, providing a contrasting conclusion to the frenetic energy of earlier songs.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- short, punchy tracks
- energetic workout motivation
- intense focus on themes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Critical Peak — Represents a high point in their sound evolution and political themes.
- Themes
- socio-political activism· post-2008 economic anxiety
- Career context
- Released in 2009, Common Dreads is Enter Shikari's second studio album, following their breakthrough debut, Take to the Skies. The band was solidifying their unique sound and message during a time when they had gained significant traction in the UK music scene, blending genres and addressing socio-political issues head-on.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Architects· While She Sleeps· Underoath
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Solidarity
The lyrics shift from personal reflection to collective call-to-action, emphasizing community strength amid adversity.
This transition not only enhances the song's rallying tone but also reflects the band's commitment to activism through their music.
Tracklist
- 1 Common Dreads Start here 2:08
- 2 Solidarity 3:15
- 3 Step Up 4:40
- 4 Juggernauts 4:43
- 5 Wall 4:29
- 6 Zzzonked 3:27
- 7 Havoc A 1:40
- 8 No Sleep Tonight 4:16
- 9 Gap in the Fence 4:06
- 10 Havoc B 2:52
- 11 Antwerpen 3:14
- 12 The Jester 3:55
- 13 Halcyon 0:41
- 14 Hectic 3:17
- 15 Fanfare for the Conscious Man 3:44
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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